The Future of Christianity in South and Central Asia

2019 ◽  
pp. 433-444
Author(s):  
Savithri Sumanthiran
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Contextual Theology ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Gender Parity ◽  
Rich Description ◽  
One Belt One Road ◽  
The Future ◽  
Road Project ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Church

Christianity in Central Asia has had to negotiate between militant atheism and Islam. The challenge in the region remains the proclamation of the gospel amidst diverse ideologies. However, the witness of the Church is challenged by internal disunity. Communities that have been Islamic for centuries are now going back to their roots. Conversion from Islam is perceived as a matter of being an instrument of social fragmentation. Still, the Chinese ‘One Belt, One Road’ project has spawned the need for skilled workers, providing opportunities for Christians to be present in these countries. An important issue for the future of Christianity in the region will be the need to invest in a contextual theology that is able to evangelise without causing offence to the Islamic community. To live out the Christian faith in a convincing way in such a context will involve Christians drawing from their own Scriptures the rich description of the kingdom of God that can shape the entire life of a community. South Asian countries have all seen an improvement in gender parity over the last decades. As Christians live among social strata, they can show the relevance of their message to the contemporary context.

scholarly journals KAZAKHSTAN-CHINESE RELATIONS AND CHALLENGE OF FOREIGN FORCES

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanat Kakar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rich Country ◽  
One Belt One Road ◽  
Road Project ◽  
The One ◽  
External Forces ◽  
The Impact

In 2013, China's Silk Road Initiative, the One Belt One Road project, was first mentioned in Kazakhstan and has been widely discussed by major countries and international organizations. Kazakhstan's participation in this project, a resource-rich country in Central Asia, has attracted world attention, and the impact of external forces on Central Asia will have its own impact on the implementation of this project. The interests of countries such as Russia and the United States in Central Asia and the views of international organizations are important factors in the implementation of this project. This article examines the relations between China and Kazakhstan in the framework of the "One Belt - One Road" initiative and the competition of external forces influencing it, their views on the project, their interests, the project and competing projects, and highlights important international organizations and agreements. and the toothed conclusion is pronounced.

scholarly journals Die plek en funksie van die Heidelbergse Kategismus in ’n omkeerstrategie in die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Callie F.C. Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Church Of Christ ◽  
Church Of God ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
The Future ◽  
Special Occasion ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Rich ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Church

Die herdenking van die 450 jarige bestaan van die Heidelbergse Kategismus (1563−2013) is ’n baie besondere geleentheid. Dit is ’n geleentheid om ons in die ryke erfenis van die 16de-eeuse Reformasie te verheug. Dit is ook ’n geleentheid om met die oog op die toekoms van kerkwees oor die relevansie, handhawing en belewing van hierdie erfenis te besin. Wat die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika betref, word hierdie besinning oor die plek en funksie van die Heidelbergse Kategismus (HK) in besonder in hierdie artikel gedoen in die lig van die sogenaamde omkeerstrategie waarop die Algemene Sinode van 2012 besluit het. Deputate wat die volgende sinode moet adviseer, het onder andere die opdrag om ’n studie te doen ‘… van die suiwerheid en toepaslikheid van die leer wat op elke vlak verkondig word, asook hoe dit verder uitgebou kan word’. In die artikel word beredeneer dat die volgende sake in die besinning oor ’n omkeerstrategie vir ’n kerkgemeenskap in die reformatoriese tradisie aandag sal moet ontvang: Die wese van die kerk, kerk en belydenis en die belydenis as deel van die wese van die kerk. Wat die HK in besonder betref, word aandag gegee aan die unieke aard daarvan, die kategismusprediking en die apologetiese en missionale gerigtheid daarvan omdat dit ’n belangrike onderdeel van die werk van bogenoemde deputate vorm. Die artikel word afgesluit met enkele slotopmerkings en ‘aanbevelings’ dat opnuut oor die kategismusprediking besin word en dat die handhawing van die belydenis in enige omkeerstrategie ononderhandelbaar is.The place and function of the Heidelberg Catechism in a ‘turn-around’ strategy within the Reformed Churches in South Africa. The commemoration of the 450th year of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563−2013) is a special occasion worldwide. It is an opportunity to experience gratitude and joy for the rich heritage of the 16th-century Reformation. It is also an opportunity to reflect on maintaining and experiencing this heritage of being church in the future. As far as the Reformed Churches in South Africa are concerned, this reflection on the future is focused in this article on the so-called turn-around strategy, decided on by the General Synod of 2012. A mandate was given to deputees in this regard, inter alia to undertake a study regarding the soundness and relevance of the doctrine that is proclaimed and how that can be further promoted. It is argued in this article that the following issues should be addressed in reflecting on a turn-around strategy for a church in the Reformed tradition: the essence of the church, church and confession and the confession as part of the essence of the church. As far as the Heidelberg Catechism in particular is concerned, the following points are addressed: the unique character of the Heidelberg Catechism, catechism preaching, the apologetic and missional focus of the Heidelberg Catechism in the light of the task to be dealt with by the abovementioned deputees. It is concluded that special attention should be given anew to catechism preaching and that maintaining the confessions is not negotiable for the church of Christ on her way to his second coming. Believe me, my Lord, the Church of God will never preserve itself without a Catechism. (Uit ‘n brief van Calvyn aan Somerset, 22 Oktober 1548; Vgl Wallace 1990:97)

scholarly journals Vatikan II setelah 50 Tahun: Quo Vadimus

MELINTAS ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Fabianus Sebastian Heatubun
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Kingdom Of God ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Pope Francis’s statement “I am the Vatican II” sounds a manifesto. To which direction is the wind blowing the Church’s ark, we might have already guessed. The existing dichotomy between the liberal and the conservative as well as the tension between the primacies of the pastoral and the dogmatic will yet be conflicting and colliding with each other. After 50 years, the 2nd Vatican Council and the ongoing future discussions about the basic pastoral directions within the Catholicism are to this day white-hot. The Pope could be anyone. But theologians, for these are who make the <em>lineamenta</em> of a new document, will continue to colour the trend of the Church in giving responses to the signs of the time. The future of Catholicism will not be viewed as limited as the lens of the Vatican II. The future humanism will challenge the Church with wider and more complex considerations rather than dwelling on the problems of dialogue with other religions apologetically or racketing with traditionalism, liberalism, and sekularism. There are pressing matters such as ecology, global warming, terrorism, and the sprawling gap between the poor and the rich. Macro-ethics has become more imperative than micro-ethics. The Catholic Church is called out to create “a better world for all” – the Kingdom of God that is inclusive and at a stroke pluralistic.<br /><br />

A.I. Solzhenitsyn Apropos of Russia’s Future: Specific Outlook Features Depending on Different Historical Context

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 327-334
Author(s):  
Inga V. Zheltikova ◽  
Elena I. Khokhlova
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
The Political ◽  
Social Stability ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
The Future ◽  
Pessimistic Attitude ◽  
Personal Qualities ◽  
Images Of The Future ◽  
The Church

The article considers the dependence of the images of future on the socio-cultural context of their formation. Comparison of the images of the future found in A.I. Solzhenitsyn’s works of various years reveals his generally pessimistic attitude to the future in the situation of social stability and moderate optimism in times of society destabilization. At the same time, the author's images of the future both in the seventies and the nineties of the last century demonstrate the mismatch of social expectations and reality that was generally typical for the images of the future. According to the authors of the present article, Solzhenitsyn’s ideas that the revival of spirituality could serve as the basis for the development of economy, that the influence of the Church on the process of socio-economic development would grow, and that the political situation strongly depends on the personal qualities of the leader, are unjustified. Nevertheless, such ideas are still present in many images of the future of Russia, including contemporary ones.

scholarly journals Is There a Place for Theoretical Frameworks in Qualitative Research?

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692098795
Author(s):  
Casey M. Garvey ◽  
Rachel Jones
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
Inductive Reasoning ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Common Sense Model ◽  
Rich Description ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Qualitative Analyses

Qualitative research proceeds from the position that there is no one observable reality. Researchers utilizing qualitative methods build findings inductively, from raw data to a conceptual understanding. Theoretical frameworks may be utilized to guide qualitative analyses by suggesting concepts and relationships to explore. The framework may provide a sense of the story emerging from the analyses. And concurrently, the rich description provided by the analyses may allow the framework to be more deeply appreciated. However, there is a risk that using a theoretical framework may stifle inductive reasoning or result in findings incongruent to the data. The following is a discussion of the application of a theoretical framework in a qualitative study. This study, guided by the Common-Sense Model, explores the choice to undergo treatment for Hepatitis C Virus among veterans. Examples from the analyses are provided to facilitate discussion on the utilization of a theoretical framework. Techniques to optimize the use of a theoretical framework, as well as mitigate risks of such use, are presented. When utilized alongside rigorous data analyses and introspection, a theoretical framework may serve as a valuable tool to navigate data in qualitative research.

Psychological and Linguistic Analysis of Concept «Unynie» as a Clue to the Framework of Suicides

2019 ◽  
pp. 130-151
Author(s):  
Александр Добросельский
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Enforcement Mechanism ◽  
Slavic Languages ◽  
The Future ◽  
And Linguistics ◽  
The Church ◽  
Artificial Origin ◽  
Ancient Texts

Автор статьи ставит целью найти механизм суицида через анализ слова и понятия «уныние». В качестве методов используются этимологический анализ, анализ слова «уныние» на стыке богословия, психологии и лингвистики. Указанные методы позволяют понять, что «уныние» происходит от славянского слова «ныть (нытьё)», которое использовалось для описания неблагополучия телесного. С помощью приставки «у» было создано новое слово, имеющее тот же смысл неблагополучного состояния, но для духа человека, что подтверждается несколькими древними текстами. Общий для этих слов праиндоевропейский корень «nu» подразумевает бездеятельное, беспечное и бесперспективное предстояние перед исполненным нужды и мучений настоящим и отчаяние в будущем. Данный вывод весьма важен для изучения механизма суицидального поведения, дабы найти методы его разрушения, который могли бы взять на вооружение педагоги и психологи. Последнюю тему мы предложим читателю в следующей статье. In the act of suicide there is an enforcement mechanism that matures in low spirits and is triggered by despair. The key issue is finding a method to destroy such a mechanism in order to help educators and psychologists. This article is an attempt to find the framework of suicide through an analysis of the word and concept of «уныние». The etymological study of the word «уныние» shows that it has an artificial origin and occurs for any functions only in the Slavonic Church and languages it influenced on. The word «уныние» is used to name a sinful situation. The study of the word «уныние» is at the intersection of theology, psychology and linguistics and makes it possible to understand that the word «уныние» came into existent simultaneously with the Church Slavonic. There was a word «ныть (нытьё)» in the Slavic languages. It is used to describe physical ill-being. The new word was created by adding prefix «у» to describe spiritual ill-being. Some ancient texts corroborate it. Common for these words etymological proto-indo-european root «nu» fills the word «уныние» with the meaning of inactive, careless and hopeless status before the miserable and bitter, present and desolation in the future. This conclusion is highly significant to follow in the next article, studying the framework of suicidal behavior.

scholarly journals Is Transportation Infrastructure Important to the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative? Empirical Evidence from the Selected Asian Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwang-Jing Yii ◽  
Kai-Ying Bee ◽  
Wei-Yong Cheam ◽  
Yee-Lee Chong ◽  
Ching-Mei Lee
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Fixed Effect Model ◽  
Transportation Infrastructure ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Kyrgyz Republic ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
One Belt One Road ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

The One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative is implemented to improve the linkage between China and its neighboring countries in terms of economic ties, connectivity, partnership, and security cooperation. The crucial challenge encountered in OBOR initiative is the different gauge standards from different countries in the development of railway along the Silk Road. Another issue arose from the regulation of education sector in the aspect of quality, cost, and efficiency. To the best of our knowledge, there is still lack of study on the transportation infrastructure and education towards the GDP in the selected Asian countries, especially for Central Asia. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of OBOR initiative and its importance towards economic growth by further investigating the determinants such as transportation infrastructure, education, labor, trade, and inflation rate. This study employs panel data analysis using the annual data from the period of 2000–2015. The selected Asian countries are divided into three regions, namely Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), ASEAN (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia), and East Asia (China, Mongolia). Besides, we use fixed effect model (FEM) to obtain the results based on the support of Hausman test and Poolability F-test. The findings reveal that transportation infrastructure possess a positive effect on GDP. Surprisingly, education is negatively related to GDP. With this, policy makers are suggested to encourage OBOR countries to expand and upgrade their system in terms of transportation infrastructure, human capital, culture, and education. In future studies, the advanced model is recommended to investigate the pre- and post-efficiency of OBOR initiative.

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